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tur·nip

(tûrnĭp)

1. A widely cultivated Eurasian plant (Brassica rapa) of the mustard family, having a large rounded edible whitish root and edible leaves.

2. The root of this plant, eaten as a vegetable.

3. Chiefly Northeast US A rutabaga.

[tur-, of unknown origin + English dialectal nepe, turnip (from Middle English, from Old English nǣp, from Latin nāpus).]

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turnip

white egg turnips

Brassica rapa

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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